Should You Allow Flex Time?

An increasing number of companies have begun offering flexible work schedules to their employees. If you’re considering allowing flex time at your business, it’s important to keep these advantages and disadvantages in mind:

Higher employee morale

By providing opportunities for flex time, you may increase employee satisfaction in your workplace. According to Susan Nathan, writing for The Balance Careers, flex time enables your staff to have a better work-life balance, since employees can plan their work schedule around doctor appointments, their children’s schooling, and other personal obligations. They can also avoid driving at rush hour, which may currently be a major stressor if they have long commutes.

Susan M. Heathfield of The Balance Careers states employees with flex time can work at the hours in which they typically accomplish the most. For instance, night owls may be able to work harder if they decide to head into the office later in the day. Overall, Heathfield says employees can feel more in control over their work and experience less burnout.

Reduced costs

Flex time also has a number of benefits for employers. Nathan says your workers may be able to share equipment if they have vastly different hours, potentially saving your organization money. With improved employee morale, workers may also feel more committed to your business and be less likely to leave their job, according to Heathfield. As such, your business may not have to devote as much time or resources to replacing employees.

Will Kenton, a contributor to Investopedia, says workers tend to care more about workplace flexibility than advancement, or even compensation. This means offering flex time may allow your organization to more easily recruit employees as well as retain them. 

Diminished productivity

Flex time does come with a unique set of challenges may not make it ideal for certain employees or companies. Kenton says that flex time is best for staff members who primarily do individual work. If your staff members do lots of teamwork, flexible schedules may make it difficult for them to accomplish tasks, according to Heathfield. Teams may have to plan well in advance for meetings and struggle to communicate with others working at different times.

Heathfield also notes clients may complain if customer-facing employees are not available during typical business hours. Some managers may find it frustrating to manage employees who are not working the same hours as them.

Clear expectations

In order to combat certain issues and allow flex time to work well within your organization, Maura Thomas, writing for Harvard Business Review, says setting communication hours is a must. These are the hours in which everyone is expected to send and respond to emails. Thomas recommends workers schedule their client emails so they’re delivered within the communication hours.

If an employee has a time-sensitive issue outside of those hours, they can communicate by phone rather than email. By setting these guidelines, you can make it easier for employees to work in teams and have work-life balance. Without doing so, Thomas warns workers may feel they always need to monitor their emails and experience burnout.

Offering flex time can be a great opportunity for both employees and employers if the proper policies are set. Speak with a financial advisor to learn if and how your business should allow flex time.